Hydraulic shock absorber



Aug. 24, 1937. H. 1 cHlsHoLM, JR

HYDRAULIC SHOCK ABSORBER Filed March 21, 193e .VE UZ-7 by L. @ws/mw, de.

L as. 7//////////// I||| Patented Aug. 24, 1937 l UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE HYDRAULIC SHOCK ABSORBER Harry L. Chisholm, Jr., Buffalo, N. Y.,

Houde Engineering Corporation, Buffalo, N.

assignor to I My invention relates to hydraulic shock absorbers comprising relatively movable cylinder and piston elements adapted for connection re spectively with the body and axle structure of an 5 automotive vehicle, the invention concerning particularly the direct acting type of shock absorber in which the cylinder is of tubular` form and the piston structure is adaptedv for longitudinal movement therein.

An important object of the invention is lto provide an improved shock absorber structure in the form of a tubular link adapted at the ends of the cylinder and piston structures for direct coupling engagement with fittings on a vehicle body and axle structure.

A further important object of the invention is to provide simplied and more eicient valving arrangements for controlling the flow of the displaced hydraulic iluid during relative movement between the cylinder and piston elements, which valving .means will elciently compensate forv volumetric difference caused in the high and low pressure hydraulic working chambers by the piston rod of the. piston, and which l,valvii'ig means will also efllciently assure the proper shock absorber action during temperature and viscosity variations of the hydraulic huid and will automatically provide for increased fluid flow passageway duringperiods of abnormal pressure conditions to which the fluid may be subjected during travel of a vehicle, in order to prevent injury to the shock absorber parts and its connections with the vehicle structure.

The abov enumerated and other features of the invention are incorporated in the structure disclosed on the drawing, in which drawing:

Figure l. is .a side elevation, partly in section, of the shock absorber structure.

Figure 2 is an enlarged diametral longitudinal section of the lower end of the shock absorber structure to show the construction, arrangement and operation of the valving means.

The cylinder element comprises a straight cylinder tube I extending between upper and lower heads II and I2. The lower head I2 is in the form of a cylindrical plate having the upstandl ing annular flange I3 a distance inwardly of its edge around which the lower end of the cylinder tube engageswith a sealing gasket I4 inter- 50 posed between the head and the lower end of the tube.

The'head I2 has a depending flange I5 concentric therewith which surrounds the lower portion of the valve recess or chamber I6 in the head, .this chamber communicating with the passageway Il extending upwardly through the head.

The upper head II has the neck I8 which vreceives the upper end of the cylinder tube I0. 60 Surrounding the cylinder tube, concentric therepocket with but spaced a distance therefrom, is the outer Vtube i3 which at its lower end is contracted to' vform a cylindrical neck I9' into which the base end of a cylindrical cup 20 extends and is rigidly secured, preferably by welding. Secured to andv extending upwardly from the cup bottom is a guide lug or plug 2| for receiving the lower end of the flange II on the lower cylinder head' I2. At its upper end the outer tube I9 receives the upper cylinder head II and has threaded connection therewith as indicated at 22. After the heads have been applied to the cylinder tube, the outer tube I9 is slipped up around the cylinder tube and is turned for threading onto the upper head, the outer tube thus drawing the heads tlrmly against the cylinder tube ends and clamping the lower head I2 against the base of the cup 2l. In order that the plug 2| may readily enter the flange I of the lower head, the outer edge of the plugis beveled as indicated at 23.

Within the cylinder tube III is the piston structure designated as a whole P. This pisto`n structure has a piston rod 23 extending upwardly therefrom through the upper cylinder head II, and at its upper end the rod is secured to the `bottom of a cup frame 24. The upper and lower cup structures 24 and 2l) form part -of the connection between the shock absorber structure and the vehicle body and axle. As shown, the upper cup structure 24` has the yieldable coupling element 25 clamped therein by a plug 28, this coupling member being preferably of rubber. The yieldable coupling member has a cavity 21 therein for receiving the flattened head 23 at the end of a stud 23 which is secured in anysuitable manner to the vehicle body, the cup having a side opening "through which the stud head may be inserted into the yieldable coupling membel'.

The lower cup 20 has a yieldable coupling element 3l in the form of rubber clamped therein by the plug 32, its cavity 33 receiving the flattened end 34 on the stud 35 which may be secured in any suitable manner to the axle structure of the vehicle, the cup having the side opening 36 to which the stud end may be inserted for engagement in the cavity of the yieldable coupling member.

In the upperl end of the outer tube I9 an abutment ringi'l is secured, as by-welding, and between this abutment ring and the adjacent shoulder of the upper head I I is inserted a gasket 38 of suitable material such as rubber, this gasket being compressed when the outer tube I9 is y threaded to the head I I and forms a sealed joint.

In the upper end of the head II is the recess or 39 surrounding the piston rod 23 and in 5 this cavity a suitable packing construction may be'applied. As shown a packing ring 40 of suit- 00 I 45 flange able material is confined within a housing Il' and urged against the piston rod by a spring member 42. In the lower end, oi the head Il a bushing 43 is applied aroundv the piston rod and ,this bushtube Is provides a iluid reservoir or replenishing chamber and the upper head I I has'drain passages I1 connecting the packing recess Il with the upperend of the replenishing chamber so that any iluid which may have leaked upwardly along the piston rod past the bushing 41 will be returned to the replenishing chamber. Y Describing now the piston structure P, it comprises upper and lower annularwalls 4I and 4l Y surrounded by the cylindrical outer wall or shell Il and yheld spaced apart by the annular lug Il on the wall l0 to leave the annular passageway 52. The lower end oi the piston rod is oi reduced diameter to provide a shoulder Il against which seats `an abutment ring I4 which engages the reduced end of the piston rod. The walls Il and 4s also receive the reduced end of the piston rod anda nut 55 has threaded engagement with the rod for clamping' the piston assembly and the abutment ring 5 4 between the nut and the shoulder 53, thus to securely hold the piston assembly to the piston rod, the outer wall III of the piston assembly snugly engaging with the inner side of the cylinder tube IIL Extending transversely through the upper wall 4l are one or more ports l0 extending between the passageway l2 and the annular channel l1 in the 40 top of the wall annular disc surrounding the abutment ring Il and to reciprocate thereon for opening or closure of the channel 51 and the ports il relative to the upper or high pressureV working chamber Il. A

M on the abutment ring M limits the up- -ward movement oi' the valve disc.

One or more ports 59 through the lower piston wall I9 connect the passageway l2 with the lower or low pressure working chamber ll, these ports being always open to fluid ilow. p Y

At its lower end the piston rod has the axial bore CII in the lower part oi which is inserted the tube -il lagainst a shoulder l2, this tubei'orming a valve chamber. -A cap il has screw thread engagement with the end of the piston rod and abuts the tube OI to hold it in place against the shoulder I2. v

Clamped between the upper end of the tube Il and the shoulder 82' is an orice disc Il having 60 the central opening or eway through which extends a cylindrical valve head or plug Extending from the valve plug is the stem l1 which at its lower end has the reduced guide end Il extending through the opening Il in tbe g5 cap nut 63. Within the tube Il is a spring 1I surroimding the stem and abutting the cap nut and a flange 1I on the stem, the stop washer 12 on the outer end oi' the stern limiting the inward movement o! the valve structure and the shoulder 70 13 on the stem limiting the outward movement. the spring tending to hold the valve structure with the valve plug projecting through the passage 6I in the disc N, the diameter oi' the. passage .l

5 being preferably slightly greater than the di- Il, a valve Il in the iorm o! an amater of the valve plug so as to leave a restricted annular orifice passageway.

'I'he piston annular passageway 52 is connected by ports 1l with`the valve chamber, and ports 15 connect the valve chamberA with the low pressure working chamber 45. Ports 16 connect the high pressure working chamber 44 above the piston structure with the upper end of the bore 0l in the piston rod.

'I'he outer end of the valve plug B6 is of reducing cross-sectional area in order that when the valve structure is moved downwardly the Aarea of the orinoe passage will be increased. As indicated at 11 the valve end is cut away on the bias.A

This bias end serves the additional purposeo! providing for lateral pressure against the valve by the fluid iiow which pressure tends to hold the valve structure against vibration .duringopera-y tion of the shock absorber. l

In the upper side of the lower cylinder head l2 is the annular channel 1I from which ports 1s extend downwardly through the head to communicate with the lower end of the reservoir or replenishing chamber It. Above the channel 1I and guided by the danse i! is the annular valve disc l0 which is movable to open or close the channel Il, the upward movement oi the valve disc being limited by the ring'li secured in they flange Il.

The bottom oi' the valve chamber It in the head I! is shaped to provide the Vannular valve seat around the passageway i1. a valve disc I3 cooperating with the seat and being normally held thereagainst by a spring Il which is seitteilV in the pocket Il in the plug 2| on the cup Il. The valve disc has the orifice Il therethrough in alignment with the passageway i1.' The valve chamber ls is connected by ports l1 with the'reservoir or replenishing chamber 4I.

vAriillei opening Il is provided -in the tube Il for the reservoir or replenishing chamber u and a closure plug Il is provided ior the opening.' A'

shield tube l0 surrounds the'cylinder structure oi the shock absorber and is secured at its .upper end to the cup 24 preferably by welding, this shield tube protecting the` shock absorber structure against injury as from iiyingl stones and also against dust and dirt. y

Describing now the operation, the piston structure is normally at some intermediate point within the cylinder. During bump stroke oi the piston, that is. during compression movement ot the vehicle spring, the piston downwardly. The duid in the low lpremure chamber I is displaced by the piston and ,part of Vthe iluid hows freely upwardlyv through the ports 5l and I! and past the valve disc Il into the high pressureworking chamber ll thus tending 2 I* to equalize the pressure in the working chambers.

The volume oi duid displaced from tbelow prea` sure chamber is greater than the volumetric increase ot the chamber u by the displaced volume of the piston rod above the piston. :'i'hisexceas volume oi fluid ilows normally through the oriiiee Il in the valve disc Il and tbromh the valve chamber Il 'and'ports l1 into the replenishing" chamber Il, this orince metering tbe iluid now. the pressure to which the iluid is subiected being determined by the projected area of the piston rod, for, as previously explained, the pressure at the opening ofthe check valve Il. g

Under normal or ordinary pressure conditions.

the valve Il will be held against its seat by the spring Il but, should the'lild Vilcollt! ml opposite sides cr the pawn itself is balances by" 79 tion with said other head for exerting clamping due to climatic changes, or should the piston structure be subjected to excessively rapid downward travel, the pressure against the valve disc 63 will overcome thespring 84 and unseat the valve to allow bypassage of fluid for vrelieving' the excess pressure, the valve again closing for exposure only of the orice 86 as soon as normal conditions are resumed.

During rebound movement of the vehicle spring the piston structure is'moved upwardly in the cylinder and the valve 58 is moved by the pressure to close passageway through the ports 5l and 59 and the displaced fluid must therefore flow from the upper or high pressure working chambers through the ports 16 into the piston rod bore and then throughv the restricted annular oriice B5 into the valve chamber and from there through the passage 52 and the ports Il to the low pressure working chamber I5.

Under ordinary pressure and climate conditions the spring'lii will hold the'valve plug-6I in normal position so that the fluid iiow will be metered by the restricted annular orifice But under abnormal pressure or viscosity conditions,

the pressure against the valve will overcome the spring and the valve will be shifted downwardly to bring its biased end into the orifice passage to increase the area of the passage for relief of the abnormal pressure or viscosity conditionsA 3D until normal conditions are again resumed.

Owing .to -the volumetric difference of displacement between the high pressure and low pressure working chambers 44 and I5 upon upward movement of the piston structure, suction will be created in the low pressure working chamber Il which will raise the valvev 80 from'its seat and draw fluid into the low pressure chamber from the replenishing chamber 46 in order that the working chambers may be kept filled with fluid, the valve Il being kept closed by the pressure during downward movement of the pistnn structure.

As the orifice disc u is comparatively thin, the

.v edge surrounding the orifice passage is sharp 5 and under ordinary viscosity' change in the fluid this type of orifice will compensate for such viscosity variations and the shock absorbing resistance will not be materially interfered with. The valve disc I3 is also thin s'o that the orifice I.

50.will present a sharp edge for metering of the iiuid flow without material influence by viscosity variations.

By means of the yieldable connecting elements 26 and 3l, the shock absorber structure can be 5-5 directly applied to supporting studs' extending from the vehiclebody and axle structure and during travel of the vehicle these yieldable connecting members will relieve the shock absorber structure of all unnecessary strain so that it may 0 operate freely and efiicientiy at all times for control of the vehicle spring.

, I have shown a practical and eilicienty embodiment of the various features of my invention but I do not desire to be limited to the exact con-v struction, arrangement andgoperation shown and described as changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim as follows: v

1. A hydraulic shock absorber of the class described comp .w an outer tube having an end wall, an inner linder forming tube having de tachable heads at its ends,l one of said heads abutting the end wall of said outer tube and said outer tube at its other end having ldetachable connecaction to clamp said heads to said cylinder tube, a piston structure operable in said cylinder tube, and a piston rod extending from said piston structure through one of said heads.

2. A hydraulic shock absorber of the class described comprising an outer tube having a coupling frame secured to one end thereof for adapting said end for connection with a support, an inner tube having outer and inner detachable heads and forming therewith a cylinder structure, said inner head abutting said coupling frame at the end of said outer tube and the other end of said outerv tube having threaded engagement with the outer cylinder head whereby said outer tube serves as a clamp for holding said heads to said inner tube, a piston structure operable within said cylinder structure, a piston rod extending from said piston structure through said outer l head, and a coupling frame secured to the outer end of said connecting rod for connecting said rod with a support.

3. A hydraulic shock absorber of the class described comprising an outer sheet metal tube, an inverted cup frame secured to one end of said tubeto form a closure therefor and'to form part of coupling means for securing the end of Ythe tube to a support, a cylinder structure within said outer tube comprising a cylinder tube and inner and outer detachable heads therefor, said cup frame forming an abutment for the inner cylinder head and saidgouter tube at'its other end' being secured' to the outer cylinder head whereby said heads will be held to the cylinder tube, a piston rod extending into said cylinder tube through the outer head thereof, a piston structure secured to the inner end of the piston rod, and a cup shaped frame secured to the outer end of said piston rod serving as part of coupling means for connecting the rod with asupport.

4. A hydraulic shock absorber of the class described comprising a cylinder structure, a piston shaft extendingl into said cylinder structure from the exterior thereof, a piston structure secured to said shaft 'and dividing the space within said cylinder structure into high pressure and low pressure working chambers at the outer and inner sides thereof respectively. said piston structure having a passageway therethrough for comparatively free flow of hydraulic fluid from the A low pressure chamber to the high pressure chamber during inward movement ofthe piston structure and shaft, a' check valve on thehigh pres- Y sure -side of said piston structure for closing said passageway `during outwardl movement of the piston structure and shaft, said shaft having a bore connected above and below said piston structure with said high pressure chamber andv low pressure chamber respectively, andvalving means within said bore for controlling the flow from the high pressure to the low pressure chamber when said check valve is closed, said valving means comprising a cross wall in said bore having a passageway therethrough and a valve plug projecting thereinto to define a permanently open annular orifice. said valve plug being v movable by nuidpressure and being shaped to increase the size of said vorifice when so moved.

5. A hydraulic shock absorber of the class described comprising a cylinder structure, a piston shaft extending into said cylinder structure from the exterior thereof,- a piston structure secured ,to said shaft and dividing the space within said cylinder structure into high pressure and lo' pressure working chambers at the outer and inner sides thereof respectively, said piston structure having a passageway therethrough for comparatively free flow of hydraulic fluid from the low pressure chamber to the high pressure cham- 5 ber during inward movement of the piston strucv 10 bore connected above and below said piston structure withlsaid high pressure chamber and low pressure chamber respectively, a disc within said bore having a circular opening therethrough, a

valve structure in said bore having a cylindrical l5 valve end projecting intosaid circular opening and deflning'therewith an annular restricted orince passageway, spring means tending to hold said .valve end in normal position within said opening, said orifice passageway controlling the fiow'f hydraulic fluid from the high pressure chamber to the low pressure chamber when said check valve is closed, said valve end being of reducing cross-section whereby when lsaid valve structure is moved against the spring resistance under abnormal pressure conditions said reduced end will increase the area of the orifice passagev for increased fluid flow for relieving the pressure.

6. A hydraulic shock absorber of the class described comprising a cylinder structure, a piston shaft extending into said cylinder structure from the exterior thereof, a piston structure on said shaft dividing the space within the cylinder structure into high pressure and low pressure hydraulic working chambers, means providing a passageway through said piston for comparatively free flow of hydraulic fluid from the low pres- .sure chamber to the high pressure chamber, a check valve for preventing flow 1n reverse direc- 40 tion through said passageway, said shaft having a bore at its inner end and ports connecting said bore with the high pressure working chamber,

ports connecting said bore with the passageway through said piston for connection of said bore 45 with the low pressure chamber, a wall across said bore between said ports, said wall having a passageway therethrough, a valve structure in said bore comprising a valve plug projecting into said wall passageway to define an annular restricted 50 orifice for metering the fluid flow from the high pressure chamber to the low pressure chamber,

a spring tending to hold said valve structure in normal position, said valve plugbeing shaped to increase the size of said orifice when said valve 55 structure is shiftedby abnormal fluid pressure.

7.' A hydraulic shock absorber of the class described comprising a cylinder, a piston structure comprising a piston and a piston rod extending therefrom outwardly through one end of the e0 cylinder, said piston structure dividing said cylinder into an outer or high pressure hydraulic working chamber and an inner or low pressure hydraulic working chamber, valve means on said piston structure for controlling the fluid now 65 between opposite sides of the piston during inward and outward movement of the piston structure in the cylinder, means providing a reservoir and a passageway therebetween and the low pressure working chamber, a valve in said pas- 70 sageway having a restricted orifice therethrough, spring means tending to hold said valve closed against normal fluid pressure to present only said orifice for ow from the lowk pressure working chamber to the reservoir when thepiston structure moves inwardly but to yield to abnormal pressure flow to permit opening of said valve for freer flow, and a bypass around said valve for comparatively free flow from the reservoir to the low pressure working chamber during outward movement of the piston structure.

8. A hydraulic shock absorber of the class described comprising a cylinder, a piston structure comprising a. piston and a piston rod extending therefrom outwardly through one end of the cylinder, said piston structure dividing said cylinder into an outer or high pressure hydraulic working chamber and an inner or low pressure hydraulic working chamber, valve regulated passageways for controlling the fluid flow between opposite sides of the piston as the piston structure reciprocates, means providing a. fluid reservoir and a passage therebetween and the low pressure working chamber, a valve structure interposed in said passage and arranged to permit only restricted fluid flow from the low pressure chamber to the reservoir under normal fluid pressure conditions during inward travel of the piston structure but yieldable for freer flow under abnormal pressure conditions, and a separate passage between said reservoir and low pressure chamber closed during inward movement of the piston structure but open for comparatively free fiow of fluid into the low pressure chamber during outward movement of the piston structure.

9. A hydraulic shock absorber of the class described comprising a cylinder, a piston structure comprising a piston and a piston rod extending therefrom outwardly through one end of the cylinder, said piston structure dividing the cylo inder into an outer or high pressure hydraulic working chamber and an inner or low pressure hydraulic working chamber, valve controlled passageways for regulating the flow of fluid from one` side of the piston to the other during reciprocation of the piston structure in the cylinder, means providing a fluid reservoir and a passage therebetween and the low pressure working chamber, a valve in the form of a thin disk interposed in said passage and having a restricted orifice, a vspring calibrated to hold said 'valve for exposure of only said orifice for now from the low pressure chamber into the reservoir during inward movement ofthe piston structure but to yield under abnormal pressure conditions for movement of the valve for freer flow, and a bypass around said valve'for comparatively free flow into the low pressure chamber during outward movemento! the piston structure.

10. A hydraulic shock absorber of the class described comprisingan outer sheet metal tube, an inverted cup frame secured to one end of said tube to forma closure therefor and to form part of coupling means for securing the end of the tube to a support, a cylinder structure secured within said outer tube, said cylinder structure comprising a cylinder tube and head therefor, a. piston within the cylinder tube and a piston rod extending therefrom through therouter head of the cylinder tube, anda cup-shaped frame secured to the outer end of the piston rod serving as part of coupling means for connecting said rod with a support. i

HARRY L. CHISHOLM, Jn. 

